Do the opposite

The Grand Elder frowned as he looked at the Jade Slip in his hand.

“That shouldn’t be,” he murmured.

Xiao Fan: “Grand Elder, has something bad happened?”

The Grand Elder smiled slightly, “It’s not anything bad, it’s just a bit strange.”

Xiao Fan: “If there’s something, Grand Elder can go handle it first. This Disciple will arrange his own Cultivation and won’t trouble the Elder.”

Grand Elder: “Hey, what are you saying? On the day the Saint Lord Achieves Immortal Ascension, you, the Saint, will take over the Holy Land. This matter concerns the Holy Land, and I think it’s necessary for you to handle it.”

“This is also for the future, so you can manage the Holy Land better.”

Oh?

Xiao Fan was slightly surprised. He had only been in the Holy Land for half a year and was already taking over the Holy Land. He asked, “Is this appropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate about it? Don’t use someone you doubt; use someone you don’t doubt. The Saint Lord trusts you immensely. She said that when she is in seclusion, everything should be left to the Saint.”

The Grand Elder said it as a matter of course.

Xiao Fan was completely confused. The Saint Lord?

He had only heard of her from these Elders and had never even met her. This Saint Lord trusted him too much.

Could it be that the Saint Lord wants to harm me?

【Don’t overthink. If there’s danger, this System will provide a warning.】

The System’s voice rang out, filling him with a sense of security.

“Oh, then it’s fine.”

At the same time, with his promotion to administrator, Xiao Fan’s state of mind also underwent some changes.

Before: Cultivate well, protect the Holy Land.

Now: Cultivate well, protect my Holy Land.

He took the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense into it, seeing a familiar name: Ye Chen!

[A Disciple named Ye Chen, while going to the Pill Pavilion to hand in a Pill Formula, pointed fingers at an Elder who was teaching Alchemy.

He said that the Elder’s technique was lacking, his control of the Alchemy heat was wrong, and the order and dosage of Spirit Medicine placement were also incorrect.]

[The Elder teaching was Elder Qingshan, ranked third in our Pill Pavilion. He has extremely deep qualifications and has taught countless excellent Pill Pavilion Disciples. Immediately, a Disciple was displeased with Ye Chen’s attitude and accused him of insulting Elder Qingshan.]

[Ye Chen didn’t explain. He directly challenged the Pill Pavilion’s Disciples to an Alchemy competition and severely defeated them.]

[...]

When Xiao Fan saw this, he knew what the rest of the plot would be without even thinking.

It was probably about severely shocking the Disciples. He probably offended some Disciple who, influenced by his intelligence-lowering aura, would challenge him.

Then Elder Qingshan would discover that this guy was simply an Alchemy Genius. Ye Chen would use his knowledge from his previous life to severely shock Elder Qingshan.

Elder Qingshan would probably also say, “Great Master Ye, your knowledge is enough to be an Alchemy Grandmaster. This is the token of my Pill Pavilion. Please accept it. If you need anything, find me, and I’ll help you solve it.”

Xiao Fan shook his head. He was too deeply poisoned.

To verify his idea, he specifically looked at the last line.

[Grand Elder, Ye Chen is simply a born Alchemy Grandmaster. If it weren’t for the difference in seniority, I would even want to become his Disciple.

Ye Chen said his purpose was to hand in a Pill Formula for rewards, and it would be even better if he could become an Inner Sect Disciple.

But Qingshan believes that such a peerless Genius must be given preferential treatment and earnestly requests the Grand Elder to give Ye Chen the treatment of an Alchemy Grandmaster and arrange for him to join our Pill Pavilion.]

Xiao Fan: …

Uh, it was exactly as he had thought.

He glanced at the Jade Slip sent from the Scripture Pavilion again, and a general outline was already forming in his mind.

This Ye Chen must have gone to the Scripture Pavilion first and severely shocked a group of people there.

To verify his idea, Xiao Fan picked up the second Jade Slip.

[Grand Elder, I discovered a peerless Daoist Magic Genius. The situation is like this:

[Today, a Disciple named Ye Chen, while browsing ancient texts in the Scripture Pavilion, was scribbling on a Cultivation Technique.

He was discovered by a Disciple guarding the Scripture Pavilion, who immediately stopped him and questioned why he was damaging the ancient texts?]

[Ye Chen was not flustered at all. Instead, he calmly said, “This ancient text is too crude. I’m helping to modify it to make it more suitable for you Mortals to cultivate.”]

[Ye Chen said nonchalantly, “I’m doing this for the Scripture Pavilion. Are you stopping me because you are blind and don’t know how to distinguish Cultivation Techniques?”

The Disciple immediately bristled upon hearing this. This kid wouldn’t admit to damaging the Daoist Magic ancient text and even spoke disrespectfully. He immediately sought out this old man, and this old man also rushed to check the situation.]

[To my surprise, the places Ye Chen modified were actually effective, directly raising an ordinary Cultivation Technique by several Ranks.]

[This old man didn’t believe it at first and had him modify a few more on the spot. As a result, every Daoist Magic ancient text he modified greatly increased in power.

This old man immediately promised to take him as a Disciple, but unexpectedly, the old man Qingshan, who has no Immortal virtue, actually pleaded with the Grand Elder.

Grand Elder, first come, first served! I discovered this Ye Chen first, so he should join my Scripture Pavilion.]

[By the way, Grand Elder, Ye Chen’s original intention was probably to use the Cultivation Technique in his hand to exchange for contribution points, Spirit Stones, and Magic Treasures.

It’s truly a pearl covered in dust that such a Disciple is still in the outer sect. Please ask the Grand Elder to let him join my Scripture Pavilion. I will definitely teach him well.]

The more Xiao Fan read, the more familiar it became. This plot was a classic of classics.

It’s perfectly normal to use your Cultivation Technique and Pill Formula to exchange for Spirit Stones and such.

But wouldn’t it be better to quietly exchange them and quietly return? Does he have to speak out and show off? Does he have to modify the scriptures to highlight his extraordinary nature?

Rebirth, using knowledge from a previous life to severely crush those born with talent—that’s nothing.

Not knowing how to lie low and hide his abilities, being so high-profile—no wonder Ye Chen was beaten to death in his previous life.

Grand Elder: “This Ye Chen, don’t you think there’s something wrong with him?”

An Immortal Emperor Rebirth certainly has problems, but his Face remained calm: “Hehe, this Disciple doesn’t see anything wrong. On the contrary, I think this Ye Chen is a talent with potential.”

The Grand Elder expressed his thoughts: “Saint, you are too naive. You don’t understand the complexities of human hearts.”

Xiao Fan: ??

I’m naive? You really dare to say that.

The Grand Elder continued: “I suspect that behind this Ye Chen, there might be a certain force, and he is a spy planted in our Holy Land.”

Xiao Fan froze for a moment. Grand Elder, your imagination is a bit rich.

“No way? What spy would be so high-profile?” Xiao Fan knew Ye Chen’s identity, so he naturally wouldn’t have such a thought.

The Grand Elder said confidently: “Nowadays, it’s popular to do the opposite. The more you think I’m a spy and wouldn’t dare to be high-profile, the more I will be high-profile.”

“Who would have thought that someone as high-profile as me would actually be a spy?”

Xiao Fan couldn’t help but admire the Grand Elder’s mind. It was brilliant; he even understood anti-trope.

“Then Grand Elder, what do you mean?”

“Investigate his identity, find out who he has met recently and where he has been. At the same time, check if he has been Possessed by an old monster,” the Grand Elder said.

Ah?

Xiao Fan was greatly surprised.

This guy had only been Reborn for a month. His Divine Soul certainly hadn’t fully merged yet. If they investigated now, they would definitely find clues.

He hasn’t given me my Golden Finger yet; he can’t fall here!

Xiao Fan immediately retorted: “Grand Elder, I object to your action.”

The Grand Elder was stunned, not understanding.

Xiao Fan quickly explained: “Grand Elder, as you said, it’s just suspicion. What if he really is a Heaven-sent Genius, excelling in both Alchemy and Daoist Magic?”

“If we investigate him and distrust him, it will inevitably create a rift, allowing other forces to take advantage and poach him.”

“Thus, our Holy Land will suffer the loss of a Genius!”

The Grand Elder didn’t refute. Instead, he said:

“Saint, what is your opinion?”

Xiao Fan: “Indeed, the possibility of Ye Chen being a spy exists, but we can’t condemn him outright. How about this: let me meet him and spend some time with him to better understand his background.”

“But wouldn’t that delay your Cultivation?”

“For the sake of the Holy Land, delaying some Cultivation time is nothing at all,” Xiao Fan said resolutely.

The Grand Elder thought for a moment and found it reasonable.

If this Genius Ye Chen developed a rift with the Holy Land due to suspicion, it would be too great a loss.

However, the Saint had just formed his Nascent Soul and needed time to stabilize his Realm. Would letting him investigate truly have no impact?

“How about we send someone else?”

Xiao Fan said decisively: “Matters involving a peerless Genius must be handled with caution. As the Saint of the Holy Land, I have a duty to consider the Holy Land, sacrificing the small self to achieve the greater good.”

“If he truly is an unparalleled Genius, me, a Saint, spending time with him day and night will give him enough Face. Moreover, he certainly wouldn’t expect me, a Saint, to investigate him. It’s doing the opposite, Grand Elder!”

The Grand Elder was shocked. The Saint learned quickly; he had grasped the concept of doing the opposite so quickly.

At the same time, the Grand Elder was somewhat moved. The Saint’s heart was with the Holy Land. How could he refuse again? He could only let Xiao Fan do as he wished.